Mr. John "Jay" Benzing, age 73, of Patriot, Indiana, entered this life on January 25, 1945, in Bronx, New York, the loving son of the late, John Jacob and Mildred (Nylander) Benzing. Jay was raised in Merrick, New York and was a graduate of the Sanford H. Calhaun High School. Jay grew up not far from the ocean. He and his family considered art as a part of everyday life. He found encouragement from his father who loved to oil paint and his high school art teacher who was also an accomplished Madison Avenue artist. Jay earned his bachelor's degree in art education from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky and his master's degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jay was united in marriage to the love of his life on September 4, 1965, at the Christian church in Olive Hill, Kentucky, to Wanda Louise P'Simer. This happy union was blessed with two sons, John Todd and Dustin Travis. Jay and Wanda shared 52 loving years of marriage until his death. Jay was a former art teacher for Florence Elementary School in Florence, Kentucky, retiring in 1997, after 30 years of service. He was loved by the faculty, staff and thousands of students. Upon retirement, Jay and his wife, Wanda moved to Patriot, Indiana to be closer to his subject matter and the water. The nature of watercolor painting seems to lend itself to portraying old weathered buildings, in harmony with their natural settings. There is a beautiful simplicity in architecture created for a utilitarian purpose, whether it is an old barn or a lighthouse. They were built to withstand the elements like sentinels watching the march of time. Jay liked to record their presence before they succumbed to nature or man. His watercolors are available at Community Art Center in Vevay and Southeastern Art Gallery in Aurora, Indiana. His watercolors have won awards in the Kentucky Watercolor Society competitions at the Mellwood Art Center in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended the Concord Community Church in Patriot, Indiana. Jay was a member of the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, Madison Art Club and Gallery and the Kentucky Watercolor Society. Jay will be deeply missed by his loving family, abundance of friends and colleagues and his community. Jay passed away with his loving family by his side at 3:10 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at his residence in Patriot, Indiana.

Jay is survived by his wife of 52 years, Wanda Louise (P'Simer) Benzing of Patriot, IN; his sons, John Todd Benzing and his wife: Michele of Louisville, KY and Dustin Travis Benzing and his wife: Polly Anne of Fort Wright, KY; his grandchildren, Jessica Eryn, Mabel Jane and Oskar Elliott; his sister, Suzanne Hoffman and her husband: Edward of Long Island, NY; his nieces, Keira Rosenthal and her husband: Steven and Christiani Boyajian and her husband: Aaron; his nephews, Jonathan Hoffman and his wife: Susanne and Thomas Hoffman and his wife: Rachel; his seven great-nieces and great-nephews; his sisters-in-law, Brenda Kahl, Katie Schaffer, Gladys Gessel, Nancy Kilgallin, Mary Opal Gillam and her husband: Jim, and Geneva Satterwhite; his brothers-in-law, Gayle Thomas P'Simer and his wife: Lois and Harold Satterwhite and his 26-P'Simer nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Jacob and Mildred (Nylander) Benzing and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clyde and Ella P'Simer.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, May 19, 2018, at 11:00 am, by Bro. Steve Ward at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street Vevay, Indiana 47043.

Friends may call 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Friday, May 18, 2018, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street Vevay, Indiana 47043.

Memorial contributions may be made to Concord Community Church, Community Art Center in Vevay or Hospice of Dearborn County Hospital. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com